» By Daniel Newton
The men’s and Lady Govs’ tennis teams hosted the Austin Peay Fall Invitations this past Friday, Sept. 28 through Sunday, Sept. 30. The men’s team played at the Swan Lake Tennis Complex and the women played on the outdoor courts on campus.
The tournament had a great turnout, with the women’s draw featuring four flights with a consolation bracket and then men’s featuring both doubles events and three flights.
The women’s tournament featured the following teams: SIU Edwardsville, Murray State, Eastern Kentucky, Southeast Missouri, UT-Martin, Western Kentucky and Evansville.
The men’s turnout was relatively smaller, pinning APSU against just three other teams: Western Kentucky, Northern Alabama and SIU Edwardsville.
The men’s squad saw success with senior Sean Bailey and sophomore Dimitar Ristovski winning their respective flights.
Bailey, who was the top seed, defeated second-seeded Josh Smith of Western Kentucky (6-4, 6-4), fourth-seeded Nicolas Vincent of SIU Edwardsville (6-3, 6-1) and fifth-seeded Marten Jonsson of SIU Edwardsville (6-2, 6-4) to take the top flight.
Ristovski took the top honors in flight B by defeating Western Kentucky’s Andrew Fish (6-3, 7-5), Jacob Perkins of SIU Edwardsville (7-6(7-5), 6-4) and North Alabama’s Rob Whitsitt (6-4, 6-3).
Bailey was also a successful doubles player, as he and sophomore Aleksas Tverijonas won the top flight of doubles play, defeating Western Kentucky 8-3, Northern Alabama, 8-6, and SIU Edwardsville, 9-7.
The tournament marks the end of the women’s fall campaign. The men’s team will compete in the ITA regionals in Memphis, Tenn. on Friday, Oct. 19, in there last event of the fall.
